System for cleaning garments by gasoline



Nov. 15, 1927. 1,649,572

L. H. CLARK SYSTEM FOR CLEANING GARMBNTS BY GASOLINE Filed Jan. 23. 1926 Patented Nov. 15. 1927. I

UNITED STATES LESLIE HERBERT CLARK, OI EVANSVILLE, INDIAN SYSTEM FOR CLEANING GARMENTS BY GASOLINE.

Application med January 2a, 1926. Serial No. 88,413.

' improved arrangement of tanks, washer,

pump, pipes and valves whereby the process carried on results, not only in cleaning the garments, but also in separating from the "gasoline the dirt and foreign matter which is removed from the garments.

Another object is to provide an improved system of the character set forth wherein only a limited quantity of gasoline is necessary as it is used over and over again, as distinguished from systems of which I have knowledge wherein many times the volume of gasoline required by my improved system has to be used.

A still further object is to provide in a sys; tem of the character set forth, a novel arrangement of pipes, valves, tanks and pump whereby the system may be operated to cause a continuous flow or passage of the gasoline through a regular cycle, or, only a flow of the batch and which will permit drainage and cleaning of the different containers compris- .ing the system. i

I am aware that my system may be modified without departing from the inventive principle thereof and that it is not restricted to the specific constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and which are shown in the accompanying drawing. which is a side elevation, showing a more or less diagrammatic arrangement of the tanks and pipes, parts being broken away to disclose interior construction.

The main tank 1 is located above the tanks and washer hereinafter described in order that gravity may be availed of for causing the flow from said tank. This tank 1 should contain the gasoline, combined with a small quantity of water, say two gallons, and a small quantity of caustic soda. say one and a half pounds, and a small quantity of Darco, a puliverized charcoal preparation, say one oun p Whereas heretofore gasoline cleaning systems have required from 1000 to 1500 gallons for their successful operation under present practice, yet my improved system, due to the provision of the tanks, the cleaning of the gasoline, and other features, requires but 100 gallons of gasoline. The gasoline is originally contained in the tank 1 and when the system is put in operation it circulates as will soon appear.

' The tank 1 has a lid 2, a vent pipe 3, an admission pipe 4 having a nozzle 5 located in the bottom of said tank, and a valved drain 6.

The gasoline is pumped up into the tank .1, through pipe 7 by a pump 8 of any suitable construction, after having passed through the system now to be described.

A pipe 9 provided with valve 10, communicates with the upper part of the tank 1. Another pipe 11 provided with valve 12 communicates with the lower part of the tank 1 and joins the pipe 9 at 13.

The pipe 9 continues downward and enters at 14 the bottom of a water tank 15. A valve 16 controls the admission of the gasoline solution into the tank 15. A valved drain pipe 17 is provided by which the contents of pipe 9 may be drained off, when desired.

The tank 15 contains a limited quantity of clear water, say a gallon and a half, through which the gasoline passes upwardly, before leaving said tank via pipe 18 whence it passes to a filter 19. The tank 15 is provided with afiller pipe 20 closed by a suitable plug 21 and it also has a vent pipe 22.

The pipe 18 is continued at 23 and provided with a valve 24 closing a drain nozzle from which gasoline may be drawn off for purposes of testing.

In the filter 19 is a suitable quantity of waste 25 resting on a copper screen 26 supported just above the bottom of said filter.

At the top of the waste is another copper screen 27 and above this is a space in the tank into which the gasoline flows after it has been filtered by upward passage through the waste.

The washer in which the garments are cleansed appears at 28, said washer being of any desired or approved construction and provided with agitating means 29 carried by shaft 30 which may be driven from any suitable source of power. The washer 28 is in communication with the upper part of the filter 19 by a pipe 31 which has a control valve 32 and is joined by pipe 33 to the up per part of the filter 19. The pipe 31 continues upwardly as a vent.

The pipe 31 communicates with the washer 28 at a high point thereof above the level of gasoline used therein, which constantly drives the clean gasoline arriving from filter 19, down to the bottom of thewasher, insuring a constant supply of clean gasoline to the garments in the washer.

Furthermore, by subjecting the gasoline from supply tank 1,.to two successive cleanings, first to a water cleansing in tank 15 and finally, to a filtering action in filter 19, a supply of clean gasoline to the washer 28 is insured. 1

An underground tank 34 is in communication by pipe 35 with the pipe 33 and it is provided with a valve 36 which is normally closed so that the gasoline issuing from the filter 19 will pass through pipe 31 into the washer 28.

A tank 37, which is located under ground, is adapted to receive water drained from the water tank 15. The pipe 14 is connected to the pipe 38 which communicates with tank 37, said pipe being provided with valves 39 and 40 which are ordinarily closed so that the water level will be maintained in the tank 15.

The washer 28 communicates with the pump 8 by a pipe 41 which has traps 42 and a valve 43.

The pipe 41 communicates with the tank 37 by a union 44 which has a valve 45 that is ordinarily closed so that the circulation of the gasoline will be straight through pipe 41 to the pump 8, after said gasoline has been used in the washer 28.

When, however, it is desired to drain off the contents of the washer 28, the valve 45 is opened and the valve 46 provided in pipe 41 is closed. At all other times the valve 45 will be closed and the valve 46 will be open during continuous circulation of the gasoline by the pump 8.

Continuous operatz'0n.-The valve 12 first opened and the valve 10 is then opened until a flow of gasoline has been started down the pipe 9. The valve 12 is then closed. The gasoline flows down pipe 9 past valve 16 and into the water in tank 15, rising therethrough and passin into pipe 18. The valve 24 being closed, t he gasoline flows upwardly through the filter 19. The valve 36 being normally closed and the valve 32 open, the gasoline flows through pipes 33. 31, into the washer 28. The garments which are to be cleansed are placed within the washer 28 and kept therein a sufficient length of time to effect cleansing, while the agitator 29 is operating. The flow of gasoline continues from washer 28 through pipe 41 and traps 42 (valves 43 and 46 being open) to pump 8, which pumps it back through pipes 7 and 4 into the bottom of the tank 1. This cycle is continued as a continuous flow system as long as feasible. During the fiow of the gasoline it is cleansed in the filter 19 and tank 15 so that it may be used over and over again.

Draining off the batch.-The valve 12 is first opened and then the valve 10, and when the flow starts down the pipe 9, the

valve 12 is closed. The flow then continues through pipe 9 into water tank 15 and thence via pipe 18 through filter 19 into pipe 33. The valve 32 having been closed and the valve 36 opened, the gasoline, instead of passing to the washer 28 flows through the pipe 35 into the tank 34 and is thus drawn off without being used for cleaning purposes.

Cleaning out the sg ste'rn..When it is desired to dispense with the batch, the valve 6 is opened to allow the contents of the tank 1 to pass off to a sewer or' other convenient place. Similarly, the valve 17 is opened to drain off the gasoline in the pipe 9. The water is drawn ofl from the tank 15 by opening the valves 39 and 40 whereupon the water flows into the tank 37.

What I claim is:

1. In a system for cleaning garments, the

combination with a receptacle for the cleaning liquid, of a washer for the garments, a filter, a pump, and a pipe circuit extending from the receptacle to the filter and from the filter to the washer and from the Washer to the pum and thence back to the receptacle, where y the cleaning liquid first flows from the receptacle to the filter, thence. to the washer, and is kept in circulation by said pump, a separate receptacle for receiving the batch of clea.nin liquid, and a pipe connecting said batch separate receptacle to the filter, and valve means for said pipe and the pipe circuit aforesaid whereby the batch may be drained into the said batch receptacle without first passing through said washer.

2. In asystem for cleaning garments, the combination with a receptacle for the cleaning liquid, of a washer for the garments, a receptacle adapted to contain a cleanser, a filter, a. pump. and a pipe circuit in which is included the receptacle first named, the receptacle-adapted to contain a cleanser, the filter, the washer, and the pump, whereby the cleaning liquid first flows from the receptacle first named to the receptacle adapted to contain a cleanser, thence to the filter, thence to the washer, and is kept in circulation by said pump, that part of the pipe circuit connect ng the first named receptacle to the receptacle adapted to contain a cleanser, having a valved drain. and said last named receptacle also bein provided with a valve take-ofi' for. the ceanser by which said cleanser may be removed from said receptacle, a tank adapted to be placed in communication with said washer to re ceive the contents thereof, and a separate tank having a direct valved connection to the filter to permit draining of the filtered cleaning liquid directly thereinto.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LESLIE HERBERT CLARK. 

